 |
WSOR Transloads Oversize Generators at Janesville, July 15, 2011
On short notice, WSOR crews arranged to load six oversize electrical generators at our yard in Janesville. The loads were brought in by semi-truck from Darien and were shipped to Canada via the Canadian National. More info here.
WSOR 4030 Debuts in New Paint Scheme, June 30, 2011
WSOR 4030 sees first daylight at Horicon, 9:30am, June 30, 2011. All photos by Paul Swanson.
|
4030 poses in front of Dodge County Coop grain bins at Horicon, June 30, 2011. Lighting by Chris Guss/Bill Beecher.
|
WSOR 4030 crosses the Rock River bridge at Horicon for the first time, June 30, 2011.
|
WSOR 4030 on the Janesville turntable at dusk, July 1, 2011.
|
The Official Company portrait: WSOR 4030 is ready to serve Customers and Communities.
|
|
WSOR Operates “Windmill Trains” in April/May 2011
Heeding the call to transport wind turbine components from Colorado to a new wind farm near Cambria, WSOR received several trains of blades and nacelles—which WSOR crews quickly dubbed the “Windmill train”—from the UP at Janesville and operated to Cambria via Waukesha and Horicon. The special trains were over 6,000 feet long each.
WSOR 4051 East passes through Palmyra on April 30, 2011. Andy Cummings photo.
|
Between Eagle and North Prairie, the train makes an unusual sight at County Hwy X. Andy Cummings photo.
|
WSOR 4051 East enters the Canadian National at Grand Ave. in Waukesha, April 30, 2011. Andy Cummings photo.
|
The first “Windmill Train” operated as T027 on April 22, 2011, seen here at Milton. Paul Swanson photo.
|
T027 was a solid train of blades on April 22, 2011 as seen from US 12 overpass at Whitewater. Paul Swanson photo.
|
Single blade dwarfs buildings at Eagle on April 22, 2011. Paul Swanson photo.
|
The hind end of T027 near North Prairie on April 22, 2011. Paul Swanson photo.
|
|
Unit Wheat Train At Milwaukee
The WSOR operated a 105-car unit train of wheat loaded off the Northern Division on April 6, 2011. The train originated at Milwaukee and operated on CP trackage rights to Cragin Jct. where it entered the Belt Railway of Chicago for delivery to the BNSF. The first photo shows the train at Glendale Yard waiting for its crew. The second shows the train departing for Amtrak station in Milwaukee on CP trackage. Both photo by Bill Gardner.
 |
Snowplow Mishap in 1936
The Milwaukee Road had its own winter problems back in 1936. These photos were taken of a snowplow derailment north of Brandon on what is today WSOR’s Oshkosh Sub. Two steam locomotives appeared to be shoving a flanger or small plow. Photos from the Collection of Earl Wellhouse.
 |
L355 Plows up Juda Hill
Matt Heeren made these photos of the afternoon L355 plowing drifts on Juda Hill, east of Monroe on February 2, 2011. The train had been held in Janesville yard the previous night due to the blizzard that dumped over a foot of snow over the area. Additionally, WSOR's T004 Chicago train was held at Avalon due to the Belt Railway of Chicago refusing inbound trains and the T001 crew could not get to their power at Clearing Yard. At Horicon, the Jordan plow made a trip over the Oshkosh Sub to clear out drifts on the Northern Division. WSOR expected to get operations back to normal by the following day.
|
 |
Santa Arrives at Hartford via SOO 1003 and the WSOR
Despite the rainy weather, Hartford crowds gathered for the highly-anticipated arrival of Old St. Nick via the WSOR on November 13, 2010. Ed Knueppel photo.
Snow Plowing Action back in the Day
Earl Wellhouse of Waupun sends us this vintage view of a Milwaukee Road plow, presumably a gondola-mounted V-plow, powered by a steam locomotive, plowing near Brandon, WI on February 11, 1936. Milwaukee’s snow woes continue today for the WSOR as the Northern Division has required plowing by the Jordan Plow or ballast regulators. Photo from the Collection of Earl Wellhouse.
WSOR 3807 in snow at Butler, WI
WSOR 3807 was laying over at UP Butler yard in Milwaukee on February 24, 2010 during a snow squall. The unit was working a unit grain move to Jones Island. Photo by Ed Knueppel.
Business Train, November 9, 2009
The WSOR business train carried the Advisory Board from Horicon to Janesville and return on November 8-9 for a planning session. The train is seen here at Duplainville on the Canadian National on its return to Horicon on the 9th. Photo by Ed Knueppel.
WSOR Safety Training Officer Bob Witzack Retires, July 27, 2009.
Employees gather for Bob's retirement party in Madison
|
Bob with Supt. Steve Beske (left), and CEO Bill Gardner.
|
|
WSOR employees gathered at the Madison yard office building on Monday July 27, 2009 to celebrate WSOR Safety Training Officer Bob Witzack’s retirement with a cookout and camaraderie. Bob's railroad career began with a stint as a Milwaukee Road trainman in 1972. He hired on the Wisconsin & Calumet (WICT) in Janesville in 1991. WSOR purchased the WICT in August 1992. Putting his experience as a school teacher to work, Bob later became WSOR’s training officer, in charge of testing and training train crews new and old. Bob will enjoy working on antique watches and reviving his painting career with his newfound time. Congratulations, Bob!
|
Bob's retirement cake: engine isn't red?!
|
Bob cuts the cake.
|
Supt. of Operations Steve Beske at the grill.
|
CEO Bill Gardner honors Bob's years of service.
|
|
Track Inspector Gary Figy Retires, April 17, 2009.
 |
WSOR Maintenance-of-Way employees hosted a retirement cookout for Track Inspector Gary Figy on April 16, 2009. Based at the Janesville terminal, Gary has worked for the WSOR since the WICT acquisition in 1992. He worked for all three shortline predecessors: Chicago Madison & Northern, Central Wisconsin, and Wisconsin & Calumet for a total of thirty years. Gary was presented with a company watch, GP38 model, and several fishing momentos from his fellow employees. Gary spent his final day Friday, April 17 inspecting the Fox Lake Sub out of Janesville. He plans to take time out from fishing once in awhile to stop by and check on his former fellow employees. Congratulations, Gary!
|
Gary with his retirement cake: From WSOR to Fishing.
|
MOW Supt. Ben Meighan presents Gary with GP38.
|
Gary with his track inspector hi-rail truck for one more day.
|
Gary will be well remembered for all his tall stories.
|
|
Snow Plowing with the Jordan Spreader, Markesan and Reedsburg Subs, January 2009.
East of Markesan, at County Hwy. S, January 10, 2009. Tim Hensch photo.
|
East of Markesan, at County Hwy S, January 10, 2009. Tim Hensch photo.
|
Hwy. 44 crossing, west of Brandon, January 10, 2009. Tim Hensch photo.
|
|
View from the locomotive cab while plowing Dane Hill on the Reedsburg Sub, near Dane, WI.
|
|
Santa Train at Plymouth, WI, December 13-14, 2008
Saint Nick arrived in Plymouth in style on WSOR rails behind steam engine Soo 1003.
Santa Train arrives with stack talk. Bill Gardner photos
|
The Saturday Santa Scene at Plymouth.
|
People line up to meet Santa in his caboose.
|
ST delivered Christmas trees with help from Boy Scouts.
|
The Plymouth post office stamped and sorted mail on the former RPO Northern Plains that was part of Santa Train.
|
Over 12,000 pieces of mail were carried on the WSOR on Sunday. Special Santa stamp was used for the day.
|
Santa Train at Edgerton, WI, December 5-6, 2008
WSOR delivered Old Chris Kringle to Edgerton to ring in good cheer via steam engine Soo 1003.
Santa Train arrives, Friday night. Bill Gardner photo
|
Santa alights from his caboose. Bill Gardner photo
|
Santa Train holds the main Friday AM. Pat Weeden photo
|
Santa Train with crowds on Friday. Pat Weeden photo
|
Santa Train returns to Janesville. Pat Weeden photo
|
Santa Train returning to Janesville. Pat Weeden photo
|
WSOR’s New B-Unit Debuts, August 2008
After 18 months of hard work by the Horicon shop forces in their spare time, WSOR 102 has rolled out of the shop fully operational with a fresh new paint job. WSOR 102 was originally built for the Union Pacific as thier UP 967B in September of 1955 as a cabless booster unit hence the B-unit moniker. The locomotive ended up on Amtrak, with prime movers stripped out and converted to a steam generator car. WSOR stripped out the prime movers and electrical gear from a former MARC E9 and transferred to WSOR 102 to return it to an operational E9B. When teamed up with WSORs two E9A’s, the trio become the only true fully operational E9 A-B-A set in the U.S. The units will be used for executive specials.
The A-B-A trio together for the first time at Horicon, August 18. WSOR photo
|
At Milwaukee Amtrak station, Wednesday evening, August 20. Don Kalkman photo
|
Westbound out of Milwaukee on CP trackage with TRB Special, August 21. Mike Yuhas photo
|
The A-B-A trio deadheads toward Chicago, August 24, crossing Rock River at Janesville, WI. Tim Hensch photo
|
WSOR 102 at Janesville, WI August 20. Paul Swanson photo
|
James M. Gardner Last Run, August 7, 2008
The Wisconsin & Southern Railroad Co. paid respects to Jim Gardner, supporter of our railroad and father of WSOR CEO William Gardner, with a final run to his resting place. Soo Line steam locomotive 1003 did the honors at Hartford, Wisconsin, with a fitting and memorable send-off.
More Snow Plowing on the Oshkosh and Markesan Subs, February 23, 2008
This series of photos by Matt Lastovich was taken on February 23rd as WSOR 4077 worked the Oshkosh and Markesan Subs again clearing out drifting snow using WSOR’s Jordan Spreader/Ditcher. The snowfall of the winter of 2007-2008 has been the most seen in many years, creating a challenge for WSOR crews systemwide.
Deep Snow Drifts on the Oshkosh Sub, March 2008
This photo by Northern Division Roadmaster Jim Sukopp, taken between Island Road and Locust Road just north of Ripon on the Oshkosh Sub, shows the extent of snow drifts that were battled on the WSOR during the Great Winter of 2008.
Weather Conditions Provide Challenge for WSOR Employees, week of February 18, 2008
Heavy rain on Sunday, February 17, followed by sub-zero temperatures caused switches to freeze in yards, and many road crossings across the Southern Division to become buried in ice and frozen slush, and impassable to train movments. Witness this crossing on the Monroe Sub, covered with eight inches of solid ice. Maintenance-of-Way employees had to chip out ice from flangeways before the train could pass through. It took two days to reach Monroe from Janesville. Photo by Matt Heeren.
Snowplowing on Oshkosh Subdivison, February 11, 2008
WSOR’s Jordan Spreader was sent out on the Oshkosh Sub north of Horicon on Monday, February 11, 2008 to clear drifts up to twelve feet deep from recent snowstorms. The Horicon Car Shop had worked through the night to ready the plow for service, which had been in storage for over a year. Photos by Dennis Prescott.
WSOR Grain Train on the Union Pacific at Granville, WI, September 25, 2007
Wisconsin & Southern handed 25-car grain trains to the Union Pacific at its interchange point at Granville, Wisconsin for furtherance to Jones Island in Milwaukee several times in 2007. This photo by Mark W. Hintz shows empties returning to the WSOR from UP. WSOR power ran through on these moves.
|
|
